MC MEN – Ian Anthony Dale

He might be that familiar face from Hawaii-Five-O or that dashing lieutenant on Murder In The First, but Ian Anthony Dale has more roles he’s been filling and he tells MC all about it.

Credits: Vince Trupsin

MC: We love your no-nonsense character Lieutenant Jim Koto on TNT’s Murder In The First, how are you alike or different than him in real life?

Ian: We have both been called impeccably stylish gents at one time or another. But seriously, I like to think of myself as someone who puts a great deal of importance on always being fair-minded and accountable, and these same qualities provide the foundation on which my character is built. One major way in which Jim and I differ, however, is in our political ambitions. While Jim aspires to one day be the Mayor of San Francisco, I conversely have zero inclination to ever run for political office of any kind. I would like to continue to be someone people can trust, and there seems to be very little of that remaining in politics these days.

MC: In your previous big screen role in The Bucket List, how did it feel working alongside pioneers such as Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman?

Ian: Intimidating as all hell! I was still relatively new to the business at the time, and in addition to working alongside two legends, I was also feeling the pressure of wanting to prove to director Rob Reiner that he had made the right choice in casting me. I remember getting very little sleep the night before my first day of filming. Fortunately, when I got to set and started to work, my nerves settled down and I was able to just have fun. Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Freeman disarmed me with a kindness and respect that made me feel a sense of belonging. For that incredible afternoon, I got to hang with Hollywood royalty, and learn from some of the greatest talents in our industry. Experiences like that have proven instrumental in my development as an actor and a professional.

MC: We understand that you helped raise money to complete Bulbul: Song of the Nightingale, a documentary to raise awareness about the Banchara Tribe in India. What made you so passionate about this cause?

Ian: I’ve arrived at a point in my life where it has become vitally important for me to use all the good fortune I have experienced to help lift up those who are desperately searching for way to make their voices heard. Sex trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that exists throughout the world. In the case of the Banchara Tribe, girls as young as twelve years old are forced against their will into a life a prostitution. By sharing the story of Bulbul, our hope is to raise awareness and ultimately bring sustainable change to their community through education, healthcare, and alternative economic opportunities. To learn more visit bulbulthedocumentary.com.

MC: Coming from a Japanese, French and English descent (if we’re right?), what’s the best part of being racially diverse?

Ian: My grandfathers fought against each other in WWII. That’s pretty wild when you think about it. My parents were able to look past their racial and cultural differences and fall in love and marry at a time when mixed race couples were far from the norm. Now in 2015 the cultural evolution has broken wide open, and people of all races and mixes are free to be with whomever they want with far less judgment and discrimination. I feel really fortunate to be the by-product of what happens when people love each other for who they are in a colour-blind way. Now that’s beautiful.

MC: Have you been to Asia? Or any plans to?

Ian: So far I’ve been to Japan and Korea. I hope to visit Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia within the next year. Maybe a little ambitious, I know. My dream has always been to go scuba diving all over Southeast Asia. I’ve heard it’s pretty incredible there. I would absolutely love to find more work opportunities in Asia in the coming years.

MC: Finish this sentence, “When I’m not on set, I’m usually…”

Ian: Lately, when I’m not on set, I’m usually studying my favourite films and working on my writing. When I’m not buried in my studies, you can find me travelling and exploring. With the help of some very timely advice from my manager, I caught the travel bug a few years ago and now I can’t stop. My absolute favourite hobby, however, is designing and building custom furniture. From a creative standpoint, there’s nothing more satisfying to me then the process of taking a simple concept and turning it into a fully realized tactile piece of work.

MC: What is next in store for you, professionally and personally?

Ian: I’m just finishing up filming on an EDM (Electronic Dance Music) themed Netflix film called “XoXo”, and next will head back to Hawaii to continue working on “Hawaii Five-0.” After seeing Bradley Cooper on the London stage in The Elephant Man, I became totally inspired and am toying with a return to the theatre, possibly in London. Also, I’m aiming to shoot my directorial debut later in the year. I would say all of this could be considered both personal and professional at the same time. When you love what you do, it’s not always easy to distinguish between the two.